Workshops For Parents & Families

BANANAS offers monthly workshops, classes, and support groups in the Northern Alameda County cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Piedmont, Emeryville, and Alameda. Workshops help parents approach the child care selection process, improve their parenting skills, and learn new coping tactics for a range of issues.

Current Month

march

New Mom’s Support Group (4-part series)Berkeley Room5232 Claremont Ave.

Event Details

Congratulations on becoming a new mom! Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Finding a circle

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Event Details

Congratulations on becoming a new mom! Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another.

Alexis Azzam, MFT, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant.

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life

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Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life experiences and your parenting style as well as how you can take actions to positively shape your child’s development. By the end of this workshop, you will take home techniques for raising compassionate, resilient children. This series is facilitated by Madeline Meyer Riley, MFT a mom and former family child care provider.

Event Details

Congratulations on becoming a new mom! Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Finding a circle

more

Event Details

Congratulations on becoming a new mom! Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another.

Alexis Azzam, MFT, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant.

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life

more

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life experiences and your parenting style as well as how you can take actions to positively shape your child’s development. By the end of this workshop, you will take home techniques for raising compassionate, resilient children. This series is facilitated by Madeline Meyer Riley, MFT a mom and former family child care provider.

Time

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life

more

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life experiences and your parenting style as well as how you can take actions to positively shape your child’s development. By the end of this workshop, you will take home techniques for raising compassionate, resilient children. This series is facilitated by Madeline Meyer Riley, MFT a mom and former family child care provider.

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Learn CPR & First Aid and increase your chances of getting a babysitting job! Designed for youth ages 13 - 17, this class prepares teenagers to become better

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Event Details

Learn CPR & First Aid and increase your chances of getting a babysitting job! Designed for youth ages 13 – 17, this class prepares teenagers to become better babysitters. This class offers instruction in CPR and First Aid. Our instructor will teach students basic first aid and CPR and emergency response. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a bag lunch. The registration fee includes a manual and a certificate of completion. There are no refunds and no rescheduling. This class will fill up! Please purchase your tickets early.

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life

more

Event Details

At this workshop series, we’ll talk about how our interactions with children impact their brains, emotions, and behaviors. You will learn to recognize connections between your own life experiences and your parenting style as well as how you can take actions to positively shape your child’s development. By the end of this workshop, you will take home techniques for raising compassionate, resilient children. This series is facilitated by Madeline Meyer Riley, MFT a mom and former family child care provider.

Event Details

This workshop will introduce you to the variety of child care options and offer guidance on how to begin the process of finding a child care provider or

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Event Details

This workshop will introduce you to the variety of child care options and offer guidance on how to begin the process of finding a child care provider or preschool program that’s right for your family. Subsidized or low-cost child care programs will also be discussed and our knowledgeable counselor will help explain various eligibility options.

Event Details

We know that choosing the right child care fit for your baby can be a difficult decision. There are a lot of things to consider, such as the

Event Details

We know that choosing the right child care fit for your baby can be a difficult decision. There are a lot of things to consider, such as the cost, hours, and type of child care that is best for your family. You may have questions about the differences between a family child care, a center, or other available options. With so many types of care to choose from, many parents aren’t even sure where to start. At this workshop, we’ll discuss each type so you can connect with the right provider.

Event Details

This is an ongoing support group that meets every other month for any parent from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer community whose child is enrolled in

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Event Details

This is an ongoing support group that meets every other month for any parent from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer community whose child is enrolled in child care or an early care and education program or for parents who are considering enrolling their child into a program. We often have a unique relationship with our child care providers. We may be out and proud or struggling with how to be ourselves with the providers and families at the child care program. Please join us for the group and gain personal support, discuss how to create inclusive child care environments, learn how to advocate for yourself and your family, receive practical tools for how to integrate into program environments, and most importantly how you support yourself! This group is facilitated by Shawn Bryant and Rainbow Markell, both from the LGBTQ early childhood community.

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This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles

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Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles for fatherhood, this series will help you to navigate relationships and social norms that may hinder effective parenting. Fathers will learn that everything we need to know about being a great dad is, and always has been, inside us. All we have to do is find it and share it with our children and make their future bright and promising. Facilitator Gaylon Logan, Jr. has over 20 years of experience working with boys and men of color and he is a father, grandfather, and CEO of the nonprofit Village-Connect.

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This series is based on the idea of a parenting “boot camp” that will give you the skills, confidence, and connections to raise a healthy, happy infant. You

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Event Details

This series is based on the idea of a parenting “boot camp” that will give you the skills, confidence, and connections to raise a healthy, happy infant. You don’t have to attend all the workshops; just choose the ones that are a good fit for your family. Babies and partners are welcome!

This workshop is all about relaxation, bonding, and the power of touch. The benefits of baby massage are amazing. When you massage your infant you can reduce crying, increase sleep, improve blood circulation and digestion, balance breathing, inspire relaxation and better self-esteem, and create a loving parent-child bond. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn simple massage techniques that your baby will love.

Don’t miss our other upcoming workshops in this series covering a variety of topics designed just for new and expectant parents.

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would

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Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development?

Rebecah Freeling is a former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She will share ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note: When you register for any dates in this workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles

more

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles for fatherhood, this series will help you to navigate relationships and social norms that may hinder effective parenting. Fathers will learn that everything we need to know about being a great dad is, and always has been, inside us. All we have to do is find it and share it with our children and make their future bright and promising. Facilitator Gaylon Logan, Jr. has over 20 years of experience working with boys and men of color and he is a father, grandfather, and CEO of the nonprofit Village-Connect.

Event Details

Have questions about how to care for your newborn to 3 month-old baby? Still trying to understand about swaddling, bathing, skin care, and what to do with that

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Event Details

Have questions about how to care for your newborn to 3 month-old baby? Still trying to understand about swaddling, bathing, skin care, and what to do with that umbilical cord? Come learn all the answers from an experienced nurse who will inform you and put you at ease. At home safety measures and when to call the pediatrician or nurse practitioner are also covered.

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would

more

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development?

Rebecah Freeling is a former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She will share ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note: When you register for any dates in this workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles

more

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles for fatherhood, this series will help you to navigate relationships and social norms that may hinder effective parenting. Fathers will learn that everything we need to know about being a great dad is, and always has been, inside us. All we have to do is find it and share it with our children and make their future bright and promising. Facilitator Gaylon Logan, Jr. has over 20 years of experience working with boys and men of color and he is a father, grandfather, and CEO of the nonprofit Village-Connect.

Event Details

If you're thinking of hiring a nanny, then this is the workshop for you! At this event, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network will talk

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Event Details

If you’re thinking of hiring a nanny, then this is the workshop for you! At this event, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network will talk about the legal details of being an employer, including your rights and responsibilities.

They’ll also offer tips on how to create a positive, long-term relationship with your employee. You will have a chance to talk about your own experiences, ask questions, and share concerns. This will be a safe space to learn from other parents who have hired a nanny or in-home child care provider.

Event Details

Sleep can often feel like the number one lost activity for new parents when the baby arrives. You may be up all night soothing a crying infant, exhausted

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Event Details

Sleep can often feel like the number one lost activity for new parents when the baby arrives. You may be up all night soothing a crying infant, exhausted from keeping up with your little one throughout the day, or just tired from trying to juggle life’s many tasks. At this workshop, we will talk about sleep patterns, locations, naps, night feedings, co-sleeping, healthy training, and much more! Bring your questions and come learn about what’s going on with your newborn.

Event Details

We know that choosing the right child care fit for your baby can be a difficult decision. There are a lot of things to consider, such as the

Event Details

We know that choosing the right child care fit for your baby can be a difficult decision. There are a lot of things to consider, such as the cost, hours, and type of child care that is best for your family. You may have questions about the differences between a family child care, a center, or other available options. With so many types of care to choose from, many parents aren’t even sure where to start. At this workshop, we’ll discuss each type so you can connect with the right provider.

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would

more

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development?

Rebecah Freeling is a former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She will share ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note: When you register for any dates in this workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles

more

Event Details

This is a series designed to empower all fathers. Offering personal tools that help to define or redefine one’s sense of identity and purpose and establish guiding principles for fatherhood, this series will help you to navigate relationships and social norms that may hinder effective parenting. Fathers will learn that everything we need to know about being a great dad is, and always has been, inside us. All we have to do is find it and share it with our children and make their future bright and promising. Facilitator Gaylon Logan, Jr. has over 20 years of experience working with boys and men of color and he is a father, grandfather, and CEO of the nonprofit Village-Connect.

Event Details

Yoga is a great way to regain shape, strength, and energy after giving birth. It’s also a great way to learn about breath and body awareness. This workshop

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Event Details

Yoga is a great way to regain shape, strength, and energy after giving birth. It’s also a great way to learn about breath and body awareness. This workshop includes exercises for breathing and getting centered. We’ll also learn poses with, and without the baby, songs for bonding with baby, and calming exercises for you and baby. Taught by Alexis Azzam, a certified yoga instructor and doula, the class is designed for mothers and their pre-crawling babies, but babies of all ages are welcome.

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would

more

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development?

Rebecah Freeling is a former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She will share ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note: When you register for any dates in this workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Event Details

This is an ongoing support group that meets every other month for any parent from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer community whose child is enrolled in

more

Event Details

This is an ongoing support group that meets every other month for any parent from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer community whose child is enrolled in child care or an early care and education program or for parents who are considering enrolling their child into a program. We often have a unique relationship with our child care providers. We may be out and proud or struggling with how to be ourselves with the providers and families at the child care program. Please join us for the group and gain personal support, discuss how to create inclusive child care environments, learn how to advocate for yourself and your family, receive practical tools for how to integrate into program environments, and most importantly how you support yourself! This group is facilitated by Shawn Bryant and Rainbow Markell, both from the LGBTQ early childhood community.

Time

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would

more

Event Details

Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development?

Rebecah Freeling is a former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She will share ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note: When you register for any dates in this workshop, you are registered for the entire series.